A Small Indulgence

I made a dress.

A teeny, tiny dress.

So small I have used only fat quarters to make it.

Here’s the thing…

I have no purpose for making a teeny, tiny dress.

Except the fabric was so lovely and the seams were so short that I just wanted to make it. It was a complete indulgence.

Luckily Kirsty has a shop where she lets me sell my indulgences…

PS Did you notice that the dress is completely reversible? Not a single seam visible. Oh be still my heart… I love it!

The King was in his Counting House

Counting all his money…

Pip wanted a new mouse for his computer and some art pens to complete a project.

A trip was taken to the office supplies store.

The pens were selected, then he moved to the computer mouse section.

He found the perfect mouse. Ideal for his needs, shiny, bright and $80.

Without hesitation he put it back on the shelf and picked up the less than $20 model.

“You can afford it, can’t you?” I ask. (I know he has cash in the four-figures in the bank from the past years of birthday and Christmas money.)

“I can, but I don’t want to waste my money.” he replies quickly.

“Are you saving it for something?” I wonder.

“No”, he says. “I just don’t like wasting money.”

I can hear my Scottish ancestors whispering in his ear, “Be canny with your money, wee lad. Be canny with your money.”

He’s listening…

So Big and So Strong

My nephew Joseph is getting so big that he can write his name!

And he is getting so strong that if you say, “Hey Jojo. Show me your muscles.” he’ll show you this…

So I say it a lot.

I love to see his muscles.

Chop n chop

For the past five weeks my Pete has spent every weekend in the backyard hand-chopping an enormous tree down.

We could get a treelopper, but he does not pay money for something he could do himself, thank you!

He has climbed metres into the air to chop down one branch at a time.

Then he has chopped each huge branch into smaller pieces and put it all into the trailer before taking it to the refuse dump.

He has made at least fifteen trips to the dump in the past five weeks.

Now all he has left is a trunk…

No matter how much he chops and chops and chops…

It just won’t fall down.

It won’t let go of its grip on the ground.

Want to know how much longer my Pete will persist?

Every single weekend until it is gone.

Luckily I have nothing planned…

Feeling Peaceful

The last two weeks have been lived in this household at a frantic pace. Jobs to do, plans to make, people to see. It has been an absolute roundabout in and out of the front door.

Philip has had to select his subjects for year 11 and 12. This involved meetings and interviews – no longer do you just tick a box to make your selections. Reference manuals of university offerings must be consulted, year 10  teachers have input and the whole family has to sign on the dotted line before his selections are accepted. Overall he is very pleased with his decisions and I am pleased that he will continue to study visual arts.

I have applied for a new job. This has meant writing to selection criteria, another involved process. I was short-listed and last week interviewed for the job. It was a teleconference interview, which is a bizarre experience. I sat alone in a conference room talking animatedly and knowledgably to people I could not see. After fifteen minutes of uninterrupted blather from me I asked if the three unseen interviewers required any further information or clarification, only to be told that they had everything they needed.

Amongst these main events the rest of our busy lives has continued without abate.

Is it any wonder that I find myself creating peace doves.

I’d like a little peace…

and quiet…

These cushions are available for purchase and have been added to my website.

Winners Announced…

That little box up there tells me that the 26th commenter was the winner of the little ladybeetle cushion. That is you, Bronwyn. Thank you for sharing your daughter’s story, it was an absolute delight! I just loved it. The next time I make a ladybeetle cushion it will surely include a rocket.

Can you please email me your postal address? (my email adress is in the sidebar – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – >)

Thanks so much to everyone who entered. If you didn’t win I’m very sorry, but I hope you will use the pattern to make your own. Let’s have ladybeetles on little cushions every where!

Here’s another gift for you all. My current most favourite song. Play it loud, it’s no good on a low volume…

To the resident of Evil Manour… you’d best send me your postal address too. I won’t tell you why except to say that it will be worthwhile. No doubt that will drive you insane. Mwoo hahahaha… (that was MY evil laugh).

Ladybeetles are Rouge

My clever friend Kirsty has opened a shop. A lovely crafty studio – Pompom Rouge. It is filled with the loveliest, sweetest, hippest stuff you could ever want to own.

To help her celebrate I designed and  made her some ladybeetle cushions…

We’d love to share these with you too.

If you want to make one you can find the pattern here.

If you’d like me to make one for you and send it to you then you’d best leave a comment. I have one to give away (I think my blog turns three this month so consider it a celebration of my ability to focus my attention for longer than I ever expected!)

I’ll draw out one comment next Friday the 28th of August and that person will receive a ladybeetle cushion made just for them.

Good luck!

Check ME Out

Look at me all fancy…

Did you notice something lovely?

Something lacy and beautiful?

Something cleverly hand-dyed in amazing variegations?

It is my shawl. All mine. My very own pink, lacy shawl.

I love it. Love, love, love it.

Thank you Suse. You are clever as clever. I hope we can be friends forever and ever.

TA-DA!

It should be there today and I think Suse is at work so I’ll show all of you. You must promise not to tell Suse though…

The whole thing, expertly held by my Pete.

Quilt details: 100% cotton fabrics used – blues and greens from Amy Butler daisy chain range, white linen, flowers from Kaffe Fasset fabric; wool batting for a little extra warmth in cold Victoria; approximately 150cm square.

Applique details: raw edge appliqued, tree modified from my previous Noah’s Ark design, flowers fussy cut around dots on fabric to create flower centre, circles (the same size as my kitchen glasses).

Quilting details: continuous feather flower on centre; feathers on four-patch border; wormy tear-drop shapes around circles, lines to follow stripes on outer border with corner feathers.

I’m uploading the photos in maximum size to flickr so you can see the details a little better. (Suse put photos of my lacy shawl on there yesterday, so I have seen it too)

Thank you SO much for this swap Suse. It has been wonderful to make something with such a purpose knowing that you were thousands of kilometres away putting a huge effort into making something for me.

This whole process has been fabulous fun.

On Its Way

Today I posted the swap quilt to Suse.

I really want to show it to you, but I think she’s making me keep it a secret until she gets it.

Hurry up Australia Post…hurry up!